Study Abroad Program

Despite the stress and rigor associated with the law school experience, it does offer unique opportunities to do "something different." One of the more interesting opportunities is the chance to study abroad.

A number of law schools offer a variety of study abroad programs. Most are offered during the summer months, although some may involve the fall and spring semester. The scope of the programs and the countries represented are vast. Faculty from the host American law school teaches many of the programs. Others will include faculty from the host country law school, thus offering a unique cultural perspective. The range of courses taught will include almost anything you would want to study.

An excellent resource for study abroad programs is published each year in Student Lawyer. This annual listing of summer abroad programs includes the name of the host school, descriptions of each program and courses taught, tuition, room and board costs, and application procedures (pay close attention to the price quotes - some include room and board while others are tuition only). The listing is contained in the "Summer Study Abroad Programs" binder in the Career Services Office. The Career Services Office also offers many pamphlets describing the different schools and countries that sponsor such programs. If you are interested in studying abroad, consult the listing to identify programs of interest to you.

ASU College of Law requirements are minimal.
First, an ABA-accredited law school must offer the study abroad program. Once a program has been identified, the Associate Dean must approve the program before enrollment. Any numeric or alphabetical grade received in the study abroad courses will be transferred as "graded credits" but will NOT be included in your ASU College of Law GPA. Courses that are graded on a pass/fail basis will be transferred as "pass/fail credits."

To experience a different culture and different perspective on the study of law is a rare opportunity. For those of you considering study abroad, take the time to investigate the various programs, and take advantage of this unique, memorable opportunity.

The American Bar Association gives a basic overview, with criteria for foreign, independent, summer and cooperative programs. This site also provides a listing of ABA-accredited law schools that support study abroad programs.